Theatrical scenery



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HENRT P. CASHION, OE NEWfARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF CNE-HALE TO FREDERICK RICHARDSON, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR COUNTERBALANCING THEATRICCAL SCENERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,770, dated April 13, 189'7. Application filed February 7, 1896. Serial No. 578,322. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern indicates the drop-curtain orpieces of scenery Be itknown that I, HENRY P. CAsHION, a suspended from said beam or fixture by said citizen of the United States, residing at Newropes or linesin anyordinary manner common ark, -in the county of Essex and State of New in theatrical scenery. 55 Jersey, have invented certain new and usel-Ieretofore the ropes or lines connected ful Improvements in Devices for Counterwith the opposite ends and center ofthe dropbalancing Theatrical Scenery; and I do herecurtains have been fastened together at or by declare the following to be a full, clear, near their ends opposite where they are atand exact description of the invention, such tached to the said curtains and at lthe union 6o ro as will enable others skilled in the art to which have been fastened or connected to a third it appertains to make and use the same, refline, by which the curtains have been raised erence being had to the accompanying drawand lowered, and a counterbalancing-weight, ings, and to letters of reference marked thereusually a bag of sand, has also been attached on, which form a part of this specification. to the ropes at the place of union. 65 The objects of this invention are to secure By the improved construction, should the a more even and regular adjustment of theatlines become differentially lengthened berical drop-curtains or suspended scenery; to cause of changes in hygroscopic conditions prevent the said drop-curtains from getting the ropes become automatically adjustable j out of proper trim or relation to other scenand the drop-curtain will not be allowed to 7o 2o ery because of the contraction or stretching of fall at one side or the other out of proper rethesuspensoryropes, &c.;t0 facilitate adjustlation to the other scenery orbe drawn up ment, and to secure other advantages and at one side, so as to give to the sceneryadisresults, some of which will be hereinafter retorted effect to the eye and render it less ferred to in connection with the description realistic. 75 of the Working parts. In the present construction I do not unite The invention consists in the improved the three or more lines of the drop-curtain apparatus or device for counterbalancingthe- Where it receives the Weight, but each line atrical drop-curtains or suspended scenery or rope remains separate and distinct, as inand in the arrangements and combinations dicated in Fig. `l, so that I can pull on one or 8o 3o of parts, all substantially as will be hereinthe other at will and bring the curtain where after set forth,and finally embraced in the Vit receives said line or rope to the desired clauses of the claim. v level. After the drop is once adjusted and Referring to the accompanying drawings, the ropes orlines are fastened at a point below in Which like letters of reference indicate corthe weight, should one of the ropes expand or 85 responding parts in both of the views, Figcontract unduly the contraction or expansion ure 1 is avfront elevation of a portion of a is taken up or provided for by the other ropes, theater, showing a certain cross-beam of the so that the drop-curtain is maintained in its riggingloft having a drop -cnrtain and proper relation. To this end I have attached counterbalancing device arranged in connecto each of the ropes a clamp e, which is ad- 9o 4.o tion therewith; and Fig. 2 is a perspective j ustabl'e in its relation to its respective rope detail showing the method of clamping the or line, so as to be raised or lowered thereon counterbalancing device upon the ropes or with convenience andease. Said'clamps conlines used for operating the drop-curtain. sist of centrally open oval or oblong frames In said drawings, a indicates a suitable e', the slots or openings in which are of about 95 fixture of the theater, which may be one of the width of the rope and an inch and a half, the beams of the rigging-loft. Said fixture more or less, in'length. The slot thus formed is properly provided with the usual wheels is adapted to receive the rope c when doubled, or sheaves b above the curtain and b' b' b' and the doubled portion thrust through the at or near one side thereof, or in any suitable opening, as shown in Fig. 2.v At one side Ico 5o position, over which the ropes or lines c c c of the oblong frame are bearings e`for a for operating the curtain are arranged. d tongue f, said tongue being pivoted on said bearings and adapted to extend across the rope-opening and bear on the frame at opposite sides thereof. Thus by thrusting the doubled rope through the opening and then passing the tongue between a third bearing for the rope is formed, so that the bend in the rope is maintained, and Where tension or strain is brought upon the rope the parts are held rigidly in relative position, as will be understood.

The lower end of the clamp is provided with an eye h, adapted to receive a hook t' or other connection for the tackling or chain .7'. One of such clamps is provided on each of the ropes or lines c at points above, where the ropes are to be fastened by the stage attendant after adjusting the drop-curtain.

To the clamp of thecenter rope or the rope connected with the center of the drop I arrange a pulley k, and to the outside or end rope-clamps I hook the ends of the chain j. I pass the cen ter of the chain between pulleysheaves n o of a weight-carrier m and over the sheaves lo of the center rope. The chain is thus hooked at its opposite ends to the end rope-clamps and at its center is turned with a n-bend over the pulley 7c of the intermediate rope, and on said chain is suspended the weight-carrier m, the two pulley-sheaves of which are seated on two U-shaped bends of the chain at opposite sides of the n-shaped bend before referred to.

The carrier or pulley m is provided at its lower end with an eye/m', from which the weight or collection of weights l may be removably suspended.

The weighted carrier, with its chain and connections, equalizes the downdraft on the ropes and admits of an easyjand quick adj ustment of the drop-curtain.

After the drop-curtain, the three or more ropes c,and their counterbalancing and equalizing attachments are properly adj usted with relation to the stage the said ropes are fastened below the carrier or pulley m to a pin or other fixture in the rigging-loft or elsewhere adjacent to the stage and within the reach of the attendant, and should there be any differential expansion or contraction of one of the ropes, such as above referred to, the same will be taken up automatically by the other ropes and the proper level maintained. Should this expansion or contraction be suflicient to throw the drop-curtain as a whole above or below the proper level, then the ropes may together be quickly untied and the curtain readjusted with ease and convenience, the operation requiring no material time.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new isl. The improved theatrical curtain and xtures in which is combined with the iiXture a, having sheaves or wheels b, b, h, b', b, b', a curtain d, to the upper part of which a series of ropes or lines c, c, c, are attached, said ropes extending from said curtain upward, over said sheaves, b, and thence to the sheaves b', thence downward, an equalizing-chain attached at its ends to the suspended portions of the end ropes of those referred to, apulley 7a, attached to the center or intermediate rope or line, over which pulley the said equalizing-chain is turned, a carrier arranged on the equalizing chain and a weight suspended from said carrier, all substantially as set forth.

2. The improved theatrical drop-curtain I and iiXtures in which is combined with the fixture a, having sheaves 29,19, b, and U, b', b', the curtain d, ropes or'lines c, c, c, attached to said curtain, a pulley removably attached to the center or intermediate rope, an equalizin g tackling or chain arranged over said pulley and at its opposite ends removably attached to the other lines or ropes, a carrier having sheaves arranged on said chain or tackling and a weight, all arranged and operating, substantially as set forth.

3. In a theatrical drop-curtain appliance, the combination of a pulley k, having a ropeclamp admitting a ready attachment and removal of said pulley to and from a curtainoperating rope, a tackling or chain having rope-clamps at its opposite ends admitting an attachment to and removal from other curtain-operating ropes, a carrier having a plurality of sheaves for said chain or tackling, and a weight attached to the carrier and removable therefrom, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of January, 1896.

HENRY P. CASI-HON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES I-I. PELL, C. B. PITNEY.

IOC 

